The Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Chub

Tr. J. of Zoology
23 (1999) 355–364
© TÜBİTAK
The Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Chub Leuciscus cephalus
orientalis (Nordmann, 1840) Living in the River Aras
Mustafa TÜRKMEN
Faculty of Fisheries, Mustafa Kemal University, İskenderun-TURKEY
H. İbrahim HALİLOĞLU, Orhan ERDOĞAN
Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum-TURKEY
Ayhan YILDIRIM
Department of Fisheries, Vocational School, Atatürk University, İspir, Erzurum-TURKEY
Received: 19.10.1998
Abstract: In this study, the populations structure, growth and reproduction characteristics of 1091 Leuciscus cephalus orientalis
from the Yağan Region of River Aras between December 1995 and November 1997 were investigated monthly. The age composition
of this species ranged between I and VIII. Individuals were composed of 48.85% males and 51.15% females. Female individuals
attained greater size and age than males. The largest Female captured was 27.5 cm FL and age VIII, while the largest male was 24.1
cm FL and age VIII. Von Bertalanffy growth equations (in length and weight) and length-weight relationships were found as
Lt=32.47(1-e-0.1217(t+1.63)), Wt=502.10(1-e-0.1217(t+1.63))3.113, W=0.0099L3.113 in males and Lt=36.66(1-e-0.1114(t+1.39)),
Wt=745.31(1-e-0.1114(t+1.39))3.135, W=0.0093L3.135 in females. Mean condition coefficients of males and females were calculated
as 1.326 and 1.333 respectively. Males matured at ages II-III and females at ages III-IV. Spawning in the both years of study occurred
between May and July. Fecundity ranged between 3391-17187 eggs/female and was correlated significantly with fish length,
weight, age and gonad weight. The minimum fishing size for this species in the River Aras is suggested to be 20.0 cm in terms of
total length and it is recommended that fishing be prohibited between May and July.
Key Words: Population Structure, Growth, Spawning Age and Season, Leuciscus cephalus orientalis, River Aras.
Aras Nehri’nde Yaşayan Tatlısu Kefali (Leuciscus cephalus orientalis, Nordmann 1840)’nin
Büyüme ve Üreme Özellikleri Üzerine Bir Araştırma
Özet: Bu çalışmada, Aralık 1995 ve Kasım 1997 tarihleri arasında Aras Nehri’nden yakalanan 1091 adet tatlısu kefalinin (Leuciscus
cephalus orientalis) populasyon yapısı ile büyüme ve üreme özellikleri incelenmiştir. Örneklerin I-VIII yaşlar arasında dağılım
gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. İncelenen örneklerin %48.85’ini erkek, %51.15’ini ise dişi bireyler oluşturmuştur. Yakalanan en büyük
erkek birey 24.1 cm çatal boy ve VIII yaş, dişi birey ise 27.5 cm çatal boy ve VIII yaş olarak saptanmıştır. Boyca ve ağırlıkça Von
-0.1217(t+1.63)
), Wt=502.10(1-e-1.1217(t+1.63))3.113
Bertalanffy büyüme denklemleri erkek ve dişi bireyler için sırasıyla Lt=32.47(1-e
-0.1114(t+1.39)
-0.1114(t+1.39) 3.135
ve Lt=36.66(1-e
), Wt=745.31(1-e
)
olarak bulunmuştur. Boy ağırlık ilişkisi ve kondisyon katsayısı
erkeklerde W=0.0099L3.113 ve 1.326, dişilerde ise W=0.0093L3.135, 1.333 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Erkeklerin 2-3, dişilerin ise 3-4
yaşlarında cinsi olgunluğa ulaştıkları, üremenin Mayıs ve Temmuz ayları arasında, ortalama yumurta veriminin ise 3391-17187
adet/dişi olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Bu sonuçlara göre, Aras Nehri’nde yaşayan bu tür için en küçük av büyüklüğünün 20 cm olması ve av yasağının Mayıs-Temmuz
aylarını kapsaması önerilmektedir.
Anahtar Sözcükler: Populasyon Yapısı, Büyüme, Üreme Yaşı ve Mevsimi, Leuciscus cephalus orientalis, Aras Nehri.
Introduction
The Leuciscus cephalus orientalis (Nordmann, 1840)
being a subspecies of Leuciscus cephalus, the most
common and widely distributed throughout European
waters, the Black Sea Basin, the Caspian Sea Basin, the
Sea of Azov Basin, Caucasian Region and most of Turkey
waters is widely distributed in Dicle, Aras, Murat, Aras,
the Çoruh River Basins and branches of them, the Lake
Van Basin, all of the rivers of East Anatolia, all of the
streams flowing to the Black Sea, Munzur Stream and
other bodies of in Turkey (1, 2). Although the age,
growth and reproduction characteristics of the different
species and subspecies of the genus Leuciscus inhabiting
European and turkish waters have been studied by many
researchers (3-32), the subspecies Leuciscus cephalus
orientalis has studied by comparitively few researchers
(33-40). This species inhabiting River Aras is caught for
consumption so it has economical importance. Ecological
355
The Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Chub Leuciscus cephalus orientalis (Nodrmann, 1840) Living in the River Aras
factors affect the basic biological characteristics of fish
populations, so this kind investigation should be carried
out periodically. This study is the first on basic biological
characteristics such as age, growth and reproduction of
the subspecies Leuciscus cephalus orientalis inhabiting
River Aras. Additionally, this paper is a contribution to the
age growth and reproduction of this species from River
Aras, and the results of this study will be the basis of
other studies on this species.
Material and Methods
This study was performed in an approximately 20 km
long section of the River Aras in the East Anatolian region
of Turkey (Figure 1). Specimens were captured monthly
by means of cast nets with 12-22 mm mesh sizes
between December, 1995, and November, 1997.
Captured fish were frozen immediately and transported
to the laboratory where, once thawed, their size
(FL±mm), weight, gonad weight (W±0.1 g) and sexes
were necorded. Age was determined from microscopic
examination of scales. Ten to fifteen scales from the left
side of the body between the lateral line and dorsal fine
were removed and dry mounted between two slides for
binocular microscopic study (41). Von Bertalanffy growth
equations were calculated aacording to; Lt=L∞(1-e-K(t+to)) in
length and Wt=W∞(1-e-K(t+to))b in weight, where Lt is the
length of fish in cm at age t, L∞ the asymptotic length of
the fish in cm, e the base of natural log (2.71828) t the
fish age (year), to the hypothetical time at which the
length of the fish is zero, K the rate at which growth
curve approaches the asymptote, Wt the weight of the
fish in grams at age t, W∞ the asymptotic weight of the
fish in grams and b the constant in the length-weight
relationship (42).
Relative growth (R) in weight and length were
calculated from the equations and RW=(Wt+1
-Wt/Wt)x100, RFL=(FLt+1-FLt)x100 respectively, where
Wt+1 are the weight in grams and length in cm at age t+1,
Wt is weight in grams and FLt is length in cm at age t
(42).
Sex was determined by examination of the gonad
tissue either by eye for bigger fish or with the aid of a
microscope for smaller fish. The sexual maturity and
spawning period were estimated from the gonad
development (GSI), direct observation of the gonads and
monthly variations in egg diameters of samples (43).
Gonads were removed, weighed to the nearest to 0.1g
and ovaries preserved in 7% formaldehyde solution.
Gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated from the
equation GSI=(Wg/Wt)x100, where Wg and Wt are gonad
weight and total weight in grams of fish respectively.
Fecundity was estimated by gravimetry. The procedure
was as follows: after two to three hours of washing, the
sub-samples of 1 or 2 g according to the size of the eggs
were taken from the front, middle and back parts of the
ovaries, which contained various sizes. The eggs in the
sub-samples were counted by eye or under a lens. The
number in the sub-samples was then multiplied up to the
weight up of the ovary. The diameters of eggs taken from
the font, middle and back parts of ovaries of females of
various sizes captured just prior to the spawning period
were measured by means of a Polaris caliper compass
(1/20) (43). Statistical analyses were done according to
Yıldız & Bircan (44), with Minitab 8.2 statistical software.
Figure 1.
ERZURUM
R
RIVE
ARAS
ERZURUM
N
IA
EN
M
AR
Kar
sS
tre
am
KARS
ARP
AÇA
Y
Çıldır Lake
Karasu
ARAS RIVER
Çağ
AĞRI
laya
nS
ea
g Ar
plin
Sam
trea
IRA
356
N
The map of the study area
M. TÜRKMEN, H.İ. HALİLOĞLU, O. ERDOĞAN, A. YILDIRIM
Growth in Weight and Age-Weight Relationship
Results
Age and Sex Distribution
The age and sex distribution of specimens caught
during this study are summarized in Table 1 and Figure
2. The ages of captured fish ranged between I and VIII,
and the 2nd group was dominant in the population.
Because of the large mesh size (12-22 mm) the “0” age
group fish were not represented in the specimens. The
oldest male and female were age VIII. However, older fish
may exist in the river, but were probably not captured
because of mesh sizes and natural obstacles. There were
48.85% males and 51.15% females, and the differences
between sexes according to age were not significant
(p>0.05). The sex ratio (M:F) was 0.96:1.0, and was not
significantly different from 1:1. Males up to the third age
and females after this age were dominant in the
population.
Male+Female
N
%N
Age
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
35
30
25
20
Von Bertalanffy growth equations (age-weight
relationships) calculated with mean weights at different
ages were found as Wt=502.10(1-e-0.1217(t+1.63))3.113 for
males and Wt=745.31(1-e-0.1114(t+1.39))3.135 for females.
Female
N
%N
N
%N
p=0.05
5.04
31.71
23.65
18.24
10.36
5.96
3.30
1.74
31
184
132
92
49
24
14
7
2.84
16.87
12.10
8.43
4.49
2.20
1.28
0.64
24
162
126
107
64
41
22
12
2.20
14.85
11.55
9.81
5.87
3.76
2.02
1.10
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
1091 100.00
533
48.85
558
51.15
p>0.05
55
346
258
199
113
65
36
19
Total
Male
The mean weight (W±Sx) and relative growth (RW)
for samples according to age and sex and the significance
levels of differences between sexes within the same age
groups of L. c. orientalis are summarized in Figure 3.
Although males weighed more until age II. differences
between sexes were not significant, but after this age
females were more weight in population. A difference
between sexes according to ages for total weight were
statistically significant in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th
ages. Relative growth in both sexes was minimal in the
8th age and maximum in the 2nd age. The age-weight
relationships of samples are plotted in Figure 4.
_
Table 1.
The age and sex distribution of
L. c. orientalis
Figure 2.
The age and sex distribution of
L. c. orientalis
_
Male
_
Female
_
Male+Female
%N
5
_
_
0
1
2
3
4
_
_
_
10
_
_
_
15
5
6
7
8
Age
357
The Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Chub Leuciscus cephalus orientalis (Nodrmann, 1840) Living in the River Aras
25
Figure 3.
Age-length relationship of L. c.
orientalis
Figure 4.
Age-weight relationship of L.
c. orientalis
Fork Length (cm)
20 _
15 _
10 _
Male
5_
Female
4
_
3
_
_
2
_
_
1
_
_
0
_
Male+Female
5
6
7
8
Age
200
_
150
_
100
_
50
_
Male
Female
4
_
3
_
2
_
_
1
_
_
0
_
Male+Female
_
Total Weight (g)
250
5
6
7
8
Age
Females grew to a greater asymptotic weight (W∞) than
males.
Growth in Length and Age-Length Relationship
The mean fork length (FL)±Sx) and relative (RFL)
growth for males and females according to age, and the
significance levels of differences between females and
males in the same age groups of L. c. orientalis are
summarized in Table 2. Males were longer until the 4th
age, but after that females were longer in the population.
Differences between sexes according to age for fork
length were statistically significant only in the 4th,5th and
6 th ages. Relative growth in both sexes was minimum in
the eighth age and maximum in the second age. The agelength relationships of the samples were plotted in Figure
3.
358
Von Bertalanffy growth equations (age-length
relationships), calculated by using mean fork lengths at
different ages, were found as Lt=32.47(1-e-0.1217(t+1.63))
for males and Lt=36.66(1-e-0.1114(t+1.39)) for females.
Females grew to a greater asymptotic length (L∞) than
the males.
Length-Weight Relationships
Length-weight relationships calculated by using the
lengths and weights of the 1091 L. c. orientalis specimens
were found as W=0.0099L3.113 for males and
W=0.0093L3.135 for females. The b value of females was
higher than that of males. The correlation coefficients of
these relationships for males (r=0.982) and females
(r=0.993) were always close to one and significant
(p<0.05). The length-weight curves for males and
females are plotted in Figure 5.
M. TÜRKMEN, H.İ. HALİLOĞLU, O. ERDOĞAN, A. YILDIRIM
Age
Male+Female
FL±Sx(cm)
I
8.83±0.16
(6.3-11.0)
11.77±0.05
(9.2-13.2)
13.98±0.06
(12.2-16.5)
16.28±0.07
(13.5-19.0)
18.48±0.07
(16.9-19.7)
20.30±0.13
(18.3-23.0)
22.07±0.26
(19.8-26.0)
23.36±0.44
(20.7-27.5)
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Age
Male+Female
W±Sx(cm)
9.14±0.46
(2.96-16.76)
II
21.28±0.29
(8.41-37.50)
III
37.10±0.57
(21.00-69.20)
IV
58.80±0.90
(28.43-100.60)
V
89.04±1.33
(65.00-115.3)
VI 119.09±2.92
(68.14-176.00)
VII 155.25±5.98
(97.64-255.60)
VIII 182.07±11.27
(135.00-302.50)
Male
FL±Sx(cm)
RFL
8.92±0.15
(6.7-10.1)
11.85±0.07
(9.5-13.2)
13.91±0.09
(12.3-16.5)
15.95±0.10
(13.5-17.3)
17.88±0.10
(16.9-19.0)
19.54±0.14
(18.3-20.7)
21.27±0.32
(20.0-23.2)
22.43±0.64
(20.7-24.1)
0.33
0.19
0.16
0.13
0.10
0.09
0.06
0.33
0.17
0.15
0.12
0.09
0.09
0.05
Male
W±Sx(cm)
RW
I
1.33
0.74
0.58
0.51
0.34
0.30
0.17
Female
FL±Sx(cm)
RFL
Female
W±Sx(cm)
RW
9.06±0.45
(4.22-15.50)
21.89±0.41
(10.50-37.50)
36.92±0.88
(21.00-69.20)
55.11±1.29
(28.43-89.30)
78.71±1.64
(65.00-106.90)
105.72±4.45
(68.14-151.00)
137.44±6.80
(97.64-169.00)
158.50±8.79
(135.00-181.50)
8.67±0.34
(6.3-11.0)
11.65±0.07
(9.2-12.8)
14.05±0.07
(12.2-15.8)
16.55±0.10
(14.5-19.0)
18.85±0.07
(17.6-19.7)
20.73±0.16
(18.6-23.0)
22.47±0.35
(19.8-26.0)
23.82±0.57
(22.3-27.5)
1.42
0.69
0.49
0.43
0.34
0.30
0.15
9.29±0.98
(2.96-16.76)
20.50±0.41
(8.41±31.14)
37.29±0.71
(24.93-65.50)
61.79±1.19
(32.43-100.60)
95.50±1.45
(68.60-115.34)
126.52±3.36
(93.00-176.00)
164.15±8.07
(104.53-255.60)
193.86±16.19
(157.00-302.50)
Total Weight (g)
350 _
Male
300 _
Female
200 _
100
_
50
_
The mean fork length (FL),
standard error (Sx) and relative
(RFL) growth in length of
different age groups in L. c.
orientalis
Table 3.
The mean weight (W),
standard error (Sx) and relative
(RW) growth in weight of
different age groups in L. c.
orientalis
p>0.05
0.34
p>0.05
0.21
p>0.05
0.18
p<0.05
0.14
p<0.05
0.10
p<0.05
0.08
p>0.05
0.06
p>0.05
RW
p=0.05
p>0.05
1.21
p>0.05
0.82
p>0.05
0.66
p<0.05
0.55
p<0.05
0.32
p<0.05
0.30
p<0.05
0.18
p<0.05
The mean condition coefficient of females (1.333)
was higher than that of males (1.326), but the
differences between sexes were not statistically
significant (p<0.05) (Table 4, Figure 6). Table 4 and
Figure 6 show that the condition coefficient increases as
age increases. Seasonal variations in condition coefficients
were determined for both sexes (Figure 7). In general,
monthly conditions showed a similar pattern in both
sexes, and it was higher in the spawning period, but
lower after the spawning period and during the winter
period.
250 _
_
Table 2.
p=0.05
Condition Coefficients
400 _
150
RFL
_
_
_
5
_
_
0
_
Age at Spawning
0
10
15
20
25
30
Fork Length (cm)
Figure 5.
Length-weight curves of L. c. orientalis
Age and length at spawning were studied in 558
females and 533 males. Males matured at between 2 and
3 years of age, and females between 3 and 4 years of
age. There were differences between males and females
359
The Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Chub Leuciscus cephalus orientalis (Nodrmann, 1840) Living in the River Aras
Age
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Total
Male+Female
K±Sx
(Min-Max)
Male
K±Sx
(Min-Max)
Female
K±Sx
(Min-Max)
1.270±0.018
(1.050-1.504)
1.282±0.008
(1.032-1.902)
1.338±0.009
(1.025-1.820)
1.345-0.011
(1.021-1.804)
1.403±0.013
(1.115-1.679)
1.407±0.016
(1.112-1.702)
1.423±0.016
(1.221-1.703)
1.406±0.016
(1.297-1.522)
1.253±0.024
(1.050-1.504)
1.291±0.011
(1.047-1.682)
1.347±0.014
(1.025-1.820)
1.340±0.018
(1.084-1.804)
1.376±0.024
(1.226-1.679)
1.401±0.033
(1.112-1.702)
1.419±0.042
(1.221-1.703)
1.405±0.0432
(1.297-1.522)
1.300±0.026
(1.078-1.484)
1.271±0.012
(1.032-1.902)
1.329±0.010
(1.129-1.661)
1.349±0.014
(1.021-1.660)
1.421±0.014
(1.115-1.559)
1.411±0.018
(1.243-1.652)
1.425±0.013
(1.291-1.500)
1.406±0.015
(1.315-1.455)
1.330±0.005
(1.021-1.902)
1.26±0.007
(1.025-1.820)
1.333±0.006
(1.021-1.902)
Condition Coefficient (%)
_
1.35
_
1.3
_
1.25
_
The condition coefficient (K)
and standard error (Sx) of
different age groups in L. c.
orientalis
Figure 6.
Condition
coefficient
according to ages and sexes of
L. c. orientalis
Figure 7.
Seasonal
variations
in
condition coefficient of L. c.
orientalis
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
p>0.05
1.45
1.4
Table 4.
p=0.05
Male
Female
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
1.2
_
Male+Female
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Age
1.45
_
1.4
_
1.35
_
1.3
_
1.25
_
1.2
_
1.15
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
1.1
Male
Female
_
Condition Coefficient (K)
1.5
D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N
Months
(1995-1996-1997)
360
M. TÜRKMEN, H.İ. HALİLOĞLU, O. ERDOĞAN, A. YILDIRIM
in length and age at first spawning. In addition, the
maturity according to age of these specimens was
determined, and 64% of males were found mature in
their second age, 91% in their third age and 100% in
their 4th age and after; 59% of females were mature in
their third age, 96% in their 4th age and 100% in their
5th age and after.
occurred between May and July when water
temperatures were between 16 and 23˚C. In the 1st year,
after spawning, there seemed to be 7-month quiescent
period (Aug 1996-Feb 1997), and during spring (MarchMay), a rapid growth of the gonads occurred until the
next spawning. Also, in the 2nd year of study, the cycle of
GSI was similar to that in the 1st year. (Figure 8).
Gonad Development and Spawning Period
Fecundity and Egg Diameter
The gonad development was studied by using
gnodosomatic index (GSI). Its monthly change was
plotted in Figure 8. Spawning in both years of the study
Fecundity was estimated in 56 females captured just
prior to spawning. Female L. c. orientalis maturing at age
III produced a mean of 3391 eggs per female. At age VIII,
Figure 8.
Monthly variations in the GSI
of L. c. orientalis
Male
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
0
_
_
_
2
_
_
_
4
_
_
_
6
_
Female
_
_
_
8
_
_
_
10
_
Gonadosomatic Index (GSI)
12
D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A A J J A S O N
Months
(1995-1996-1997)
this figure rose to a mean of 17.187 eggs per female.
Fecundity was correlated with fish length, weight, and
fecundity and egg diameters increased as fish length,
weight, gonad weight and age increased. In general,
larger and older fish had a higher fecundity and larger
eggs. Egg diameters in females captured just prior to the
spawning period varied from 0.92 to 1.45 mm, and
increased as the fish length, weight and age increased,
and larger and older fish had larger eggs.
Discussion
In this study, a total of 1091 specimens of L. c.
orientalis from River Aras were examined from
November 1995 to October 1997. The age of captured
fish ranged between I and VIII. The group was 48.85%
male and 51.15% female. The sex ratio of captured
specimens was 0.96/1.0 (M/F) and not significantly
different from 1:1. It is well known that the sex ratio in
most species is close to one, but it may vary from species
to species, differing from one population to another of
same species and may vary year to year in the same
population (43). In the early life stages, the rate of males
was higher than that of females, but in later stages the
rate of females was higher than that of males. Several
investigators have also reported similar patterns in their
studies (30, 35, 36, 40). It is reported that in freshwater
fish, the ability of hatching out is generally higher for
males than females, but in upper age classes the rate of
males gets lower and lower, and also the rate of females
becomes quite dominant in a population (43). The fact
that 78.64% of the samples is between ages I and IV
indicates that there is a young population of L. c.
orientalis in the River Aras. Most samples in the
population were in the second age group. Several other
investigators (31, 35) have also reported this model.
Males were longer and heavier than females in the
early life stages, but in later stages females were longer
and heavier than males. This situation was similar to that
reported by Altındağ (31), but it was different
environmental conditions (43, 45). The L∞ and W∞ values
of females were higher than those of males. A similar
pattern was reported by Çolak (18) and Altındağ (31).
361
The Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Chub Leuciscus cephalus orientalis (Nodrmann, 1840) Living in the River Aras
The reason this may be that females grow faster than
males, and the life span of females is longer than that of
males (46). Relative growth in length and weight for both
sexes was lowest in the 8th highest in the second age.
This stiuation was reported by Nikolsky (43). The
condition coefficient increased as age increased. Several
investigators (31, 34, 40) have reported similar results.
In general, seasonal conditions showed a similar pattern
in both sexes. In the both years of the study, seasonal
conditions were maximum in April, being higher in
general in the feeding months and in the months just
prior to spawning season, but it lower in other months.
Several investigators (30, 36, 40) have reported similar
patterns. Variations in condition coefficients may be
explained by differences in environmental conditions and
between species (47).
The b value in length-weight of males (3.113) was
lower than that of females (3.135). This pattern has been
reported by many investigators; they are often 3.0 and
generally fall between 2.5 and 4.0 Values of this range
are generally erroneous. As a fish grows, changes in
weight are relatively gerater than changes in length, due
to the approximately cubic relatinship between fish length
and wegiht. The b values in fish differ according to
species, sex, age, sexual maturity of fish, season and fish
feeding (42). The first spawning age for males was age II
and this stiuation was similar to that reported by several
investigators (7, 13, 23, 29, 38), but was different from
that reported by others (5, 25, 30, 36, 37, 40) in their
studies. The spawning age for females was age III, years
old, and this stiuation was similar to that reported by
many investigators (5, 7, 25, 30, 36, 37, 40), .ut was
different from that reported by Philippart (13) and
Özdemir (38). The reason for these differences is that the
first spawning age is affected by age, species, size of fish
and environmental factors such as temperature, turbidity,
organic matter, pH and hardness of the water (48).
Spawning in the both years of study occurred between
May and July. Several investigators have reported that
spawning occurred in May and June (3, 5, 17, 39). In
addition, Bircan & Ağırağaç (29), Karataş (30) and
Ekmekçi (40) reported that spawning occurred in June,
April-June, June-July, April-July and April-June
respectively. The spawning characteristics of fishes
transferred a different place were observed to vary. It
was also observed that the spawning characteristics of
fishes of the same length living in areas with different
ecological features, but belonging the same species, had
some variations (43).
362
Fecundity varied from a mean of 3391 eggs per
female age III to a mean of 17.187 eggs per female age
VIII, and it was correlated significantly with fish length,
weight, age and gonad weight. It increased as fish length,
weight, gonad weight and age increased, and larger and
older fish had higher fecundity. Many investigators have
reported that fecundity increased as fish length, weight,
age and gonad weight increased (49). Libosvarsky (8),
Erk’akan & Akgül (23), Öztaş (37), Ünal & Balcı (39),
Bircan & Ağırağaç (29), Karataş (30) and Ekmekçi (40)
reported that fecundity was 4470-29780, 1909-15680,
4349-51137, 2050-20140, 25125-63044, 589528072 and 13300-59200 eggs/female in their Leuciscus
cephalus populations respectively. Fecundity is affected by
age, size, species, feeding of fish, season and
environmental conditions. Additionally, it differs between
populations of same species and does not remain constant
from year to year. A major feature of fecundity is its
increase (within certain limits) during the growth of fish.
A large fish lays more eggs than a small one, and the
correlation of fecundity with weight in most fish is higher
than that with length, which in turn is higher than that
with age (47). Egg diameters in females captured just
prior to the spawning period varied from 0.92 to 1.45
mm. It incerased as fish length, weight and age increased,
and larger and older fish had larger eggs. Libosvarsky (8),
Erk’akan & Akgül (23), Şen (36), Öztaş (37) and
Ekmekçi (40) reported that egg diameters were between
0.96-1.35, 0.78-1.20, 0.70-1.50, 0.55-1.38 and 0.691.65 mm respectively.
In light of these results and evaluations, in order to
maintain the population in equilibrium, it is of great
importance to give each fish the chance of reproduction
at least once in its lifetime and therefore the minimum
fishing size should be 20.0 cm in terms of total length
that is equal to 19.0 cm fork length, because all male and
female individuals were mature at age IV and had a 19.0
cm fork length at age V. It is recommended that fishing
be prohibited during the spawning season, which lasts
from May to July, and that water temperature also be
taken into consideration.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Atatürk University
Research Fund for supporting this study. We are also
grateful to Prof. Dr. İhsan AKYURT for his technical
assistance.
M. TÜRKMEN, H.İ. HALİLOĞLU, O. ERDOĞAN, A. YILDIRIM
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